Health alerts issued across England for freezing weather

The whole of England has been put on alert for cold weather, with the Met Office forecasting that temperatures will plummet this week.

The UK Health Security Agency issued a warning that the low temperatures could cause a greater risk to life for vulnerable people.

They said that the cold could impact health and social care services, with more demand than usual.

A yellow art covers the Midlands and the north of England, indicating it is likely there will be impacts from the weather although they are not expected to be major.

Meanwhile, a green alert covers the south, including London, meaning that there is the potential for impacts although these are not expected.

The alerts are in place from 9pm tonight until 9am on Thursday November 21.

They are separate to Met Office weather warnings for ice and snow which have also been issued.

A yellow weather warning for northern Scotland lasts from 4pm on Sunday until 11am on Monday, warning that there could be travel disruptions and power cuts.

The forecaster has also issued a yellow warning for parts of northern England and southern Scotland on Monday and Tuesday, with up to 20cm (around 8in) of snow possible on higher ground.

There is a small chance of up to 10cm (4in) of snow settling at lower levels, which could prove disruptive, forecasters said.

Last night the lowest temperature was recorded at RNAS Yeovilton, in Somerset, which was -0.9C, while USK in Wales recorded the highest temperature of 14.1C.

But things are expected to get colder still, with even London, which is usually mild, forecast to be -3° on Wednesday morning.

Age Scotland’s chief executive, Katherine Crawford said: ‘As we get older it can take us longer to warm up, and colder temperatures can exacerbate respiratory problems, heart disease and other health conditions.

‘There is also a concern for older people who have difficulty heating their homes to a comfortable level because of the bigger energy bills we are facing. There is concern too for those with restricted mobility, who may find it harder to get out and about while travel disruption prevents people from being able to get from one place to another safely.

‘There are also simple steps we can all take to ensure no one feels they are facing this period alone. Bad weather may make it difficult for people to get out for essential shopping or medical appointments, so we’d urge everyone to check in on older family, friends and neighbours during this period to find out if they need any extra support.

‘A friendly phone call or an offer to help with shopping, collecting prescriptions or de-icing paths could be a lifeline for someone who feels isolated at home during this cold spell.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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